[Download the PDF version]
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God… If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:10-11
Dear Friends and Family
Several months ago, I was taking promotional photographs of some of our students. As we were setting up the camera equipment and positioning people for the shot, one of the students asked me, “Why aren’t you doing photography as a ministry?” I replied, “Because the Lord hasn’t called me to do that.” Little did I know that just a few days later, the Lord would indeed call me to do that very thing.
After five years of serving the Lord with Word of Life Fellowship Canada in the Bible Institute ministry, Naomi and I will be starting a new journey of service. This fall,we will be joining the missionary staff of GoodSeed International.
The Decision
Throughout most of my life I never considered myself a creative person (overactive imagination excluded). But over the last seven years I have learned that I enjoy writing and that I have a passion and an eye for photography. However, with my history of administrative work I was very surprised to have the opportunity to minister with GoodSeed in their creative department. It was something I hadn’t really considered, but the more I have thought about it, the more it fits. Others have recognized this too. When my supervisor here at WOL heard what I would be doing, he said, “Troy, this is you!”
That doesn’t mean that it was an easy decision. We have really enjoyed our ministry with WOL and the fellowship of our coworkers and students. We wish we could be in two places at once! There were many things to think about: moving to Alberta, attending a different church, having to buy or rent a place to live in a crazy housing market, a radically different role for me, but of first importance… Is this what God would like us to do? After several months of prayer and discussion with close friends, we decided that, yes, God is calling us to make this change of ministry. And now we are excited to see how God is going to use us in and through GoodSeed.
As part of the Creative Ministry Team, I will be helping the ministry of GoodSeed as a writer, photographer and videographer (shooting and editing video) as we create tools to share the Gospel through books, video and the internet.
What does our future hold?
Along with this change come some challenges. We plan to continue working with WOL preparing for the start of a new school year. Then in September we will pack up and, after Troy helps teach an evangelism seminar at WOLBI using GoodSeed materials, we will begin the process of moving to Alberta and finding a place to live.
Below are some challenges we face in the next six months:
- We are praying that the Lord will provide housing for us, as there is currently 100% occupancy in Olds, Alberta (the location of GoodSeed’s Canadian office) and even renting is now very expensive.
- Troy will need to undergo extensive training for the new type of ministry he will have even while we are getting our family settled in this new location.
- GoodSeed is a non-profit ministry and as missionaries, we will continue to be supported the same way any other missionary would be if they were working overseas. We rely upon churches and friends to make our participation possible. GoodSeed does not deduct administrative expenses—100% of what is designated for us will go to our support. We are currently at 75% of our support needed for working with GoodSeed. Pray that the Lord will raise up those who will partner with us to make the difference. If you are interested in supporting us in our ministry with GoodSeed, please look at the box below for more detail.
- If you have any questions about this change in our ministry, please feel free to email us at troy.johnstone@gmail.com.
Feedback from WOLBI students whom Troy helped teach using GoodSeed materials:
“It has taught me so much more about God. I never really connected things up before now. Now I actually understand how everything came together. I really appreciate being taught about [the Gospel]. I can now talk more about God’s Word to people, because I understand it so much better!”
“I learned a lot of how things tie together that I did not know before. Answers to questions that I was afraid I would not be able to answer if someone asked me to explain something…”
“This study has been beneficial because I have had some doubts to the truth of the Bible lately. I know that there is mountains of evidence that points to the truth of the Bible, but by taking this course, I know that God has his hand in everything and that this book cannot be anything but truth… It has helped to clarify certain things in the Bible that I was struggling with.”
“It’s all new to me, but it’s so helpful to think I can use it to help my non-Christian family.”
What is GoodSeed?
Along with Word of Life, GoodSeed International is passionately committed to sharing the Gospel of Christ clearly with this lost world. GoodSeed believes in the need to be crystal clear on the Bible’s primary message, the Gospel, and being able to pass it on in a way that makes sense. To that end GoodSeed is committed to:
1. creating tools
GoodSeed produces materials that present a Creation to Christ approach to sharing the Gospel, laying down a foundation about God and His holy character before presenting Jesus Christ. We provide materials that are sensitive to different ages, settings, cultural and religious backgrounds, the illiterate, and such groups as the seeing impaired. Our goal is to translate culturally contextualized materials into all major and many smaller language groups.
GoodSeed has materials for use here in Canada, including materials geared for those from Muslim and Polytheistic backgrounds. We are producing materials for children, teens, ESL (English as a Second Language), correspondence courses, DVDs, audio CDs, visual aides for teaching, and many other materials. There is a constant stream of products being translated in languages from all over the world.
2. teaching people how to use those tools
Seminars are conducted around the world to train pastors, missionaries and lay people in how to use these evangelism tools. For the last few years Troy has helped teach this seminar at WOLBI to our students.
If you wish to learn more about GoodSeed, visit us at http://www.goodseed.com/. You may also sign up for the GoodSeed newsletter, Gleanings.
Just a few of GoodSeed’s Evangelism Tools…
Financial Information:
Our ministry with GoodSeed officially begins in October. Current supporters will need to make the switch by the end of September. All donations should be made payable to GoodSeed and be designated for Troy & Naomi Johnstone.
GoodSeed is able to process funds through EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer – online form for Canada for USA) if so desired (that is a fancy way of saying they can transfer directly from a donor’s bank to our GoodSeed account).
GoodSeed Contact information:
Address: PO Box 3704, Olds, AB T4H 1P5
Phone Number: 1-800-442-7333
Web: www.goodseed.com
Email: info.ca@goodseed.com
